City in Iraq poisons hundreds of stray dogs following attacks on kids

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities have killed at least 600 stray dogs in Iraq's southern city of Nasiriyah, following an uptick in dog attacks against children.

Dr. Mohammed Aziz al-Mayahi, director of Dhi Qar’s provincial veterinary department told Rudaw on Sunday the decision to poison the dogs came after an emergency meeting at the provincial level following 11 children being attacked by stray dogs.

He added that there are a growing number of dogs in the provincial capital of Nasiriyah. The strays pose a “serious threat” to residents through spreading diseases, according to Mayahi.

“After the emergency meeting held in Dhi Qar province which included the relevant departments, the meeting decided to purchase poison to destroy the dogs. The campaign has been underway for a week and is continuing,” Mayahi added.

So far 600 dogs have been “destroyed,” according to Mayahi.

He said the options consisted of killing the dogs by weapon or poison to clear them from the urban areas or to open a dog shelter; however, he said that opening a shelter was not practical at this stage.

Col. Maytham al-Mishrefawy, the spokesperson for the police department in Dhi Qar, confirmed to Rudaw that their forces are responsible for euthanizing the canines.

“Some 285 dogs were poisoned in one single day,” Mushrafawi said.

The provincial governor has formed a task force comprised of different departments, including veterinary and the police, to carry out a poisoning campaign.

Dhi Qar province also is dealing with an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. The disease can be spread through ticks which live on dogs.